Blackwater in control against Charleville

GOOD times for Denis Ring’s Blackwater Community School in Lismore.

With the Munster and All-Ireland B senior trophies already in the cabinet, along with the camogie title, their U15’s added the Corn An Phiarsaigh, Munster Colleges trophy to their laurels at Fermoy yesterday, comprehensively beating Charleville CBS in difficult conditions for good hurling.

No question the sending off of Charleville centre-forward Colin Barrett after 15 minutes went a long way to winning the game for Blackwater. Up to then they trailed 0-4 to 0-1 and then the Waterford side made their numerical advantage pay.

Blackwater always looked the tastier side though. Even against the very strong wind they opened with menace and only for two fine saves by outstanding goalkeeper TJ Garvey, to deny Brian O’Donoghue and Conor Murray goals, Charleville would have been in big trouble.

But, despite falling behind to a quick Shane Lynch point, the North Cork side had plenty hurling in them and battled away. Dean Copps had them level by the seventh minute and three points on the trot from skilful full-forward James O’Brien gave Blackwater something to think about until the sending off of Barrett for a straight red in the 15th minute changed the whole pattern of the game and put the West Waterford side on course for another title.

First O’Donoghue pointed, then Dean Whelan, Lynch again and Conor Murray. It got worse for Charleville when impressive centre-forward Peter O’Keeffe set up O’Donoghue for a 25th-minute goal. Leading 1-5 to 0-5 at the break, and the very breeze at their backs for the second-half, Blackwater were on their way.

Strangely, after a lively opening half, the standard of play deteriorated in the second-half, Blackwater’s second goal from corner-forward Conor Murray in the 32nd minute knocking the stuffing out of Charleville.

With Shane Roche running the show at midfield, Ray Barry in control at centre-back and corner-back Kieran Bennett acting as the ‘extra man’, Blackwater created plenty of chances but failed to avail of them. Just the one goal from play in the third quarter a poor return for their dominance.

Blackwater did finish in style though, O’Keeffe, always a threat, firing over a brace of points, Barry a beauty from a free and Bennett and substitute Kevin Casey one each.

Charleville battled on John Madigan O’Brien and Copps battling hard to stem the tide but the dismissal of Barrett proved too much an obstacle to overcomes.

Scorers for Blackwater CS: G. O’Donoghue and D. Murray 1-1 each, S. Lynch and P. O’Keeffe 0-2 each, D. Whelan, R. Barry, K. Bennett, D. O’Brien, K. Casey 0-1 each.

Charleville CBS: J. O’Brien 0-4 (0-2 free), D. Copps 0-1.

BLACKWATER CS: S. Barry; K. Bennett, M. Fitzgerald, J. Hannon; C. O’Gorman, R. Barry, K. Fraser; S. Roche, PJ Curran; B. O’Dwyer, P. O’Keeffe, D. Whelan; C. Murray,B. O’Donoghue, S. Lynch.

Subs: D. O’Brien for O’Dwyer. K. Casey for O’Donoghue, W. walsh for Fitzgerald, C. Dunlea for Murray.

CHARLEVILLE CBS: T J Garvey; D. McCarthy, J. Madigan, B. Kiely; A. Dennehy, J. Walsh, J. Morrissey; D. Copps, K. Murphy; C. Ryan, C. Barrett, D. O’Neill; G. Kelleher, J. O’Brien, J. Walsh.

Subs: S. Sheedy for O’Neill, C. Barry for McCarthy, D. Cagney, for Walsh, B. Walsh for Kiely.

Referee: M. Meade (Ballylanders).